Nutrition – PetScihttps://petsci.co.uk
PetSciSun, 23 Dec 2018 18:24:28 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=5.0.3https://petsci.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/cropped-apple-touch-icon-120x120.jpgNutrition – PetScihttps://petsci.co.uk
323229723462Cats Can Learn About the Nutritional Value of Their Foodhttps://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/cats-learn-nutritional-value/
https://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/cats-learn-nutritional-value/#respondSun, 20 Nov 2016 12:22:07 +0000http://petsci.co.uk/?p=4245Cats can get a bad rep for being finicky eaters, but research by the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition suggests otherwise. A study looking at the flavour, aroma and nutrition of cat foods found that even unappealing flavours can be a cat’s preferred choice if the nutritional content is right. The study by Mars Petcare showed …

]]>Cats can get a bad rep for being finicky eaters, but research by the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition suggests otherwise.

A study looking at the flavour, aroma and nutrition of cat foods found that even unappealing flavours can be a cat’s preferred choice if the nutritional content is right.

The study by Mars Petcare showed that cats are able to learn about the nutritional content of their food. Although initially cats are drawn to appealing flavours and smells of food such as fish, if given a choice they favour more nutritional options, even if it doesn’t taste as great.

In the tests conducted at Waltham, cats were offered food flavoured with fish, rabbit and orange. Fish was the initial favourite, but this changed to orange when it was offered with an optimal nutritional profile.

What Made Orange Flavoured Food a Cat’s Favourite?

Energy in our diet primarily comes from fats, proteins and carbohydrates. In an ideal environment, a cat will get roughly 50% of its energy from fats, and 50% from proteins. This is based on results from feral cats, whose daily energy intake consisted of 52% from crude protein, 46% from crude fat and 2% from N-free extract 1.

In the Waltham experiments, cats were offered 3 foods at a time. Each food choice varied in the amount of energy which came from proteins and fats. For example, one diet had a protein energy % (PE) to fat energy % of 10:90. This meant 10% of the energy came from protein and 90% from fat. The ideal ratio would be roughly 50:50.

The 3 choices also differed in flavours (fish, rabbit, orange). The experiment had 3 groups with different flavour/ratios to give a total of 9 different combinations illustrated below.

Group

PE:FE + Flavour Combinations

1

10:90 + fish

40:60 + rabbit

70:30 + orange

2

10:90 + orange

40:60 + fish

70:30 + rabbit

3

10:90 + rabbit

40:60 + orange

70:30 + fish

The experiment consisted of two parts:

Cats in study had no experience of food flavours used in study (learning period)

Cats in study with experience of food flavours offered choice of 3 foods depending on group (shown above)

During the first part of the study, cats initially preferred the fish flavoured food across all groups. However, in the second part of the study flavour was no longer the main driving factor of choice. Orange was the preferred choice for cats in group 1 due to its nutritional composition.

Similar results were found in the other groups. Despite fish being the favourite flavour (as shown in the previous experiments) the most nutritional food was consumed more regardless of flavour.

When cats were offered a choice of three foods, they were also able to balance out the amount of each food eaten to achieve the ideal 50:50 PE:FE ratio 2.

Does This Change How You Should Feed Your Cat?

It most cases, this isn’t going to affect how you feed your cat. This is mainly data to help pet food manufacturers.

If your cat is healthy and a consistent good weight, you already doing a good job with their nutrition requirements.

If you’d like some advice and things to consider when buying pet food for your cat, see below:

]]>https://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/cats-learn-nutritional-value/feed/04245Why Are Labradors So Greedy Compared to Other Dogs?https://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/why-are-labradors-so-greedy/
https://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/why-are-labradors-so-greedy/#commentsMon, 29 Aug 2016 15:55:20 +0000http://petsci.co.uk/?p=4092Why are labradors so greedy? A new study claims to finally have the answer! The study, supported by the Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council Metabolic Diseases Unit, found genetic links between labrador retrievers and their motivation for food. These findings are one of the first to directly link a gene to canine obesity. There is no doubt …

]]>Why are labradors so greedy? A new study claims to finally have the answer! The study, supported by the Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council Metabolic Diseases Unit, found genetic links between labrador retrievers and their motivation for food. These findings are one of the first to directly link a gene to canine obesity.

There is no doubt that labradors tend to bemore obese than other breeds. Multiple studies have confirmed this is true, regardless of the dog’s owner 1. Labradors are also more food-motivated than other breeds, as revealed by a questionnaire completed by 213 dog owners 2. As to why labradors are so greedy has been a difficult question to answer, until now.

Investigating a Genetic Cause of Greediness

Eleanor Raffan, a veterinary surgeon and geneticist at the University of Cambridge began her investigation by selecting three obesity-related genes. Each of the selected genes were known to affect weight in humans.

Analysis found a mutation in a gene known as POMC which was predicted to interfere with the body’s appetite. The same POMC gene is already associated with differences in body weight in humans.

There are a number of ways a gene can become mutated. In this case, a section of the gene has been deleted. This is known as a deletion mutation. This deleted section is also missing in a number of human obesity cases.

The mutation was expected to hinder a dog’s ability to produce the neuropeptides β-MSH and β-Endorphin, which are usually involved in switching off hunger after a meal.

“There are even some rare obese people who lack a very similar part of the POMC gene to that which is missing in the dogs”Stephen O’Rahilly – Co-director, Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council

POMC Gene Affects Behaviour and Weight Gain

After the initial findings, the researchers studied a larger sample of 310 labrador retrievers. In this investigation a number of food-related behaviours were found to be linked to the POMC mutation.

Owner’s recorded more ‘food-motivated’ behaviours in labradors with the POMC mutation. These dogs were especially attentive at meal times, begging for food and searching for scraps more frequently. On average, POMC deletion was found to be associated with a 1.9kg increase in body weight3.

If you’re trying to keep a labrador slim, unfortunately the odds are stacked against you. Evidence suggests dogs can influence the quantity of food offered to them by their owners 4 and labradors are particularly good at it.

The POMC mutation makes labradors more likely to increase food intake by scavenging or begging. In turn, this is going to cause weight gain.

Although the deletion mutation of the POMC gene is linked with an increased weight, not all dogs were overweight. In fact, owners of dogs that are highly food-motivated are more likely to limit their pet’s food portions.

Guide Dogs More Likely to Have POMC Mutation

The POMC mutation linked to increased weight was detected in 23% of the dogs included in the study. Of the 81 assistance labradors included in this cohort, 76% carried the mutation.

Eleanor Raffan, a veterinary surgeon and geneticist at the University of Cambridge suggests the selection of the dogs could be responsible. Assistance dog training typically involves lots of food rewards. Increased ‘greediness’ associated with POMC favours dogs with the mutation when selecting guide dogs.

How Greedy is Your Labrador?

Labradors are by far the most common dog in the UK and US, so many of you can relate to their obsession with food! How much does your labrador eat? What is the weirdest thing they have eaten? Let us know in the comments below.

If you’re a Labrador owner wondering if your lab is overweight, try body condition scoring. If you want to get your pooch back to a healthy weight, you could also try our new calorie monitoring tool, HealthTrak. HealthTrak helps you log weights, meals and overall progress as well as earning some achievements along the way!

Summary: Why are Labradors so greedy?

New study finds genetic links between labradors and their obsession for food.

Labradors shown to have higher rate of obesity than other breeds.

A mutation in the gene, POMC affects appetite.

POMC mutation found in 23% of Labradors.

POMC deletion was found to be associated with a 1.9kg increase in body weight.

Day, J. (2009). Do pets influence the quantity and choice of food offered to them by their owners: lessons from other animals and the pre-verbal human infant?. CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources, 4(042). ↩

]]>https://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/why-are-labradors-so-greedy/feed/14092PFMA Pet Obesity Report 2014: A Nation of Fat Cats and Dogshttps://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/pet-obesity-report-2014/
https://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/pet-obesity-report-2014/#respondSun, 06 Apr 2014 13:38:17 +0000http://petsci.co.uk/?p=3239A new pet obesity report, ‘Pet Obesity: Five Years On’ published by the PFMA (Pet food manufacturers’ association) uncovers how the problem of pet obesity has developed over the past five years. Despite various awareness campaigns, reports and incentives, each year there seems to be an upward trend in the prevalence of pet obesity. Obesity …

]]>A new pet obesity report, ‘Pet Obesity: Five Years On’ published by the PFMA (Pet food manufacturers’ association) uncovers how the problem of pet obesity has developed over the past five years.

Despite various awareness campaigns, reports and incentives, each year there seems to be an upward trend in the prevalence of pet obesity. Obesity in pets is a real problem and contributes towards much worse health conditions including arthritis, diabetes and heart disease. Despite this 63% of owners say there are more important health risks than obesity.

PFMA’s Pet Obesity: Five Years On, includes data gathered from 1,000 UK pet owner’s on their attitude towards crucial aspects of what is contributing to the growing problem of pet obesity.

Veterinary Professionals’ Opinion on Pet Obesity

77% of vets say that obesity in cats, dogs, birds and rabbits has risen since 2009, when PFMA published their first report on pet obesity.

The number of overweight pets seen by vets has increased dramatically over the past few years. Current veterinary opinion is that 45% of dogs and 40% of the cats they see are overweight. Compare this to a PDSA study from 2007 where the number of overweight pets was found to be between 13-28% across various parts of the UK.

Although there are many reasons why a pet can become overweight, 78% of vets believed that feeding human food as a treat or giving leftovers were the root causes of obesity in dogs. Many owners are unaware of the representative portion size of human foods when given to their pets.

“Overweight pets, like humans, can suffer from a myriad of health issues such as osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. There is nothing ‘cuddly’ about an overweight pet. Obesity is a disease in itself. It causes discomfort and illness that can result in both emotional distress and financial pressure for owners, and it has also been proven to reduce actual life length. We must continue pushing the pet health message until overweight pets are no longer an increasing and widespread concern.”

Zara Boland BVSc BE MRCVS, Founder of Vet Voice on overweight pets.

Do you know how to check if your pet is overweight?

A startling 37% of pet owners don’t know how to check if their pet is overweight and 30% have never checked their pet’s weight!

One quick and easy way to check your pet’s weight is a visual inspection to determine their body condition score (BCS). For more information on how to body score your dog, see our guide here.

Of course, you could also track your pet’s weight. To get the best results from this method, you’ll want to know your pet’s ideal weight. Your pet’s ideal weight will vary depending on breed, age, sex and other factors, so you might want to consult your vet to get the most accurate estimate. You can use our Pet Health & Weight Tools Suite to track your pet’s improvement over time.

Another way to check your pet’s weight is to measure their BMI (body mass index), although this method is controversial and not the most accurate. There is even debate surrounding its use in humans. Click here to measure your pet’s BMI.

Professional Feeding Guidelines on Portion Size

68% of pet owners do not follow feeding guidelines for their pet.

Just like humans, pets have a recommended calorific intake. But due to the wide variations between breeds and sexes, there is no one-size-fits-all recommendation. On the reverse of any reputable pet food or treat, there will be a recommended serving size based on your pet’s size/weight.

To help you understand how many calories your pet needs, try our feline calorie calculator or our canine calorie counter. These will give you a good estimate of how many calories your pet needs to maintain weight, as well as lose weight.

If your pet food doesn’t give suggested serving sizes or its calorie content, you can use our calorie content calculator. This will show you how many calories are in your pet’s food or treats based on the analytical constituents or guaranteed analysis. This is required by EU law and can be found on the back of all pet foodstuffs.

Human Food and Pets

36% of owners treat pets with potentially unsuitable human food.

As pets have a lower calorie requirement than humans, what seems like a small treat from us is likely to be adding on those pet pounds. PFMA makes the comparison: one cookie for a human is the equivalent to two for a dog. One slice of cheese for a human is the equivalent to nine for a cat!

Whilst not all human food is bad for our pets (such as vegetables and nutritionally formulated raw diets), some are potentially toxic. One of the major causes of poisoning in pets is excessive consumption of chocolate. Click here to see why chocolate is bad for pets. For more toxic human foods, see our list of common poisons for pets.

Exercise is Important for Your Pet Too

31% of owners provide at least an hour of exercise for their pet.

Veterinarians recommend at least 60 minutes of exercise split across two sessions for dogs and a total of 40 minutes a day for cats. The fact that a third of pet owners are giving their pets this amount of exercise is good news, but there is definitely still a lot of room for improvement.

What is a Hypoallergenic Diet?

Hypoallergenic diets (or limited antigen diets) are specifically formulated pet foods that are unlikely to trigger an allergic reaction in pets with food allergies. They avoid the use of common ingredients such as grains, soy, beef, chicken, etc. that are more likely to be responsible for allergies.

The diets usually contain either:

Novel ingredients – These are ingredients that your pet is unlikely to have come across before. For example, instead of chicken, the diet may contain pheasant. These uncommon ingredients are much less likely to trigger an allergic response because, for a food allergy to develop, an animal must be repeatedly exposed to a certain ingredient.Hydrolysed proteins – These are small ‘pre-digested’ protein fragments that are highly digestible and have low allergenicity.

Typically a hypoallergenic diet is used to diagnose adverse food reactions (food allergies) as the novel ingredients are unlikely to cause an immune reaction. This is why the discovery of contaminated hypoallergenic diets is a concern.

Hypoallergenic diets are commercially available, however, some owners choose to opt for the home cooked alternative. By preparing your own hypoallergenic diet, you know exactly what your pet is being fed – however it can take a lot of commitment to prepare a meal for your pet everyday. There are plenty of recipes online and books available for owners wishing to do this however.

What are Adverse Food Reactions and Food Allergies?

An adverse food reaction or food allergy, is an immune response to certain antigens (e.g. proteins, fats) in the pet’s diet. The body’s immune system reacts to these harmless antigens as though they are in-fact harmful and releases compounds that cause irritation and inflammation.

An allergy will only develop after repeated exposure to an ingredient, which is why symptoms don’t tend to develop until 1-5 years of age. Food allergies often cause skin problems and predispose the pet to certain infections.

Symptoms of a food allergy can include:

How is a Food Allergy Diagnosed?

To effectively diagnose a food allergy, a limited antigen diet (hypoallergenic diet) must be fed to your pet. This essentially removes all potential allergens from the diet. If allergy symptoms ease after being fed the hypoallergenic diet, then a food allergy is the likely diagnosis.

The problem with diagnosing a food allergy is that adhering to the hypoallergenic diet can be difficult to follow – see this guide for tips. If the hypoallergenic diet is compromised, allergy symptoms may not clear up during the diagnosis period (usually up to 8 weeks), making diagnosis tricky.

To determine the exact ingredient that is causing your pet’s food allergy, your vet may guide you on how to slowly reintroduce potential allergens back in to the diet. For example, if allergy symptoms start to flare up after reintroducing soy to the diet, then soy will be the ingredient that is causing the allergy. From this point forward, you would want to eliminate soy from your pet’s diet.

Diagnosis can be compromised for a number of reasons, contaminated commercial hypoallergenic diets being one of those reasons. This is why the findings in the recent article are concerning.

A Note About Food Intolerance

Just to note that an intolerance differs to an allergy. Whereas an allergy causes an immune response, an intolerance is a difficultly digesting certain foodstuffs.

Symptoms of intolerance differ slightly to an allergy. Food intolerances usually cause more digestive distress, such as bloating. For example, a pet with a lactose intolerance would have difficultly digesting the sugar (lactose) found primarily in dairy products.

Pet’s with a food intolerance would still benefit from limited antigen diet however, to determine the dietary ingredient that causes the digestive distress.

Recommendations for Pets with Suspected Food Allergies

The study highlights the importance of using reputable brands such as Royal Canin, Purina or Hill’s Prescription Diet to ensure that your hypoallergenic diets don’t contain contaminants that could complicate diagnosis of a food allergy or prevent symptoms from subsiding.

If possible, you might want to create home-made meals for your pet. Essentially you will want to experiment with what works best for your pet, as not all food allergies are the same, monitoring for signs of allergy as you go.

If you have any advice on what has worked for your pet let us know in the comment section below.

]]>https://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/hypoallergenic-diets-pet-food-allergies/feed/2288512 of the Best Supplements Proven to be Beneficial for your Doghttps://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/12-of-the-best-supplements-proven-to-be-beneficial-for-your-dog/
https://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/12-of-the-best-supplements-proven-to-be-beneficial-for-your-dog/#respondTue, 26 Feb 2013 17:36:46 +0000http://petsci.co.uk/?p=2773We’ve compiled a list of what we think are the 12 best supplements for your dog, including vitamins, minerals, prebiotics, probiotics and more. Supplements are becoming increasingly popular in the companion animal industry, following the successes of the human supplement industry. So we’ve taken a look at just what those supplements are actually proven to …

]]>We’ve compiled a list of what we think are the 12 best supplements for your dog, including vitamins, minerals, prebiotics, probiotics and more.

Supplements are becoming increasingly popular in the companion animal industry, following the successes of the human supplement industry. So we’ve taken a look at just what those supplements are actually proven to do.

Take a look through the list and be sure to let us know what you think in the comments below.

12. Vitamin C

Starting the list is the well-known and widely used Vitamin C. Vitamin C is frequently used by humans to support the immune system and help keep away diseases. In actual fact, there isn’t too much evidence supporting Vitamin C’s immune boosting ability, but in dogs, it has been shown to increase the bactericidal (bacteria-killing) activity of white blood cells 1.

11. Vitamin A

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is quite a distressing disease that causes rapid weight loss in dogs. It occurs when the pancreas secretes insufficient digestive enzymes, making it difficult for the dog to absorb the nutrients it needs from the diet. Normal treatment involves supplementing pancreatic enzymes. Supplementing vitamin A alongside may improve the benefits2.

10. Selenium

Selenium deficiencies can cause a number of problems in dogs, which it why it is a good idea to supplement the diet with selenium if you dog is deficient (deficiency can be determined by a blood test performed by a veterinarian). It has also been shown that additional selenium can reduce DNA damage and cell death in the ageing canine prostate3.

9. Taurine

Taurine is an organic acid found naturally in the diet. It is added to cat food due to its essential role in the feline diet, as they are unable to synthesise it themselves. Addition of taurine to dog food is not necessary, which is why it is regularly advised that you don’t feed your cat dog food. As a supplement, taurine has been shown to be beneficial for dogs diagnosed with cardiomyopathies4. It is also an antioxidant, soaking up free radicals that can damage the body, it is particularly active in the kidney and recommended to prevent kidney toxicity as a result of certain immunosuppresants 5.

8. L-Carnitine

Carnitine is involved in the production of energy from fats and is widely believed to aid weight loss. Although solid data is yet to be found on carnitine’s role in weight loss, it is incorporated in to many ‘light’ dog foods 6. There is evidence to show that carnitine is beneficial for canine heart health, particularly those diagnosed with cardiomyopathies (heart disease) 7.

7. Green Tea

The claimed benefits of green tea are quite vast; antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral. Just how true these claims are still requires more research, but green tea has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity8. Insulin resistance allows excess glucose to circulate in the blood stream allowing the liver to convert it in to fat, which can lead to weight gain and canine obesity – green tea can help prevent this.

6. L-Tryptophan

Tryptophan is an amino acid that has been shown to reduce canine aggresion9. Tryptophan is a precursor of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is commonly associated with feelings of well-being. As such, tryptophan (and serotonin) are used to reduce anxiety, fear and aggression.

5. Silybin (Milk thistle)

Silybin is an extract from milk thistle, which has been shown to protect the liver from damage caused by free radicals and other toxins10. Its hepatoprotective (liver protecting) effect is widely documented 1112, as such silybin is a common component of canine liver health supplements. See which 9 dog breeds are at greater risk of developing liver disease.

4. Vitamin E

Vitamin E is probably best known for its antioxidant function, which protects the body from free radicals that can damage cells. It is the antioxidant activity of Vitamin E that is responsible for improving canine cognitive function1314, making it an ideal supplement for dogs suffering from canine cognitive dysfunction.

Vitamin E (like Vitamin C) has also been shown to increase the bactericidal activity of white blood cells15. Studies have also shown the beneficial effect of Vitamin E on semen quality and fertility. Improvements in the volume of semen, the vigour of spermatozoa and a reduced in the number of abnormal spermatozoa have been documented 1617.

3. Oligosaccharides

Oligosaccharides are short chains consisting of sugar molecules such as fructose (fructo-oligosaccharides) or mannose (mannan-oligosaccharides). They are widely used as a prebiotic, a non-living substance that has a beneficial effect on gut health by promoting the growth of ‘good’ bacteria in the digestive tract.
Oligosaccharides can provide puppies with protection against bacterial infection18 and improve gastrointestinal microbial ecology of adult dogs, beneficially affecting gut health 19.

Oligosaccharides are also used beneficially, alongside treatment for gastroenteritis and can reduce the presence of E. Coli in the gastrointestinal tract 20.

Oligosaccharides have also been used to prevent the progression of diabetes mellitus21.

2. Lactobacillus spp.

Various species of the ‘good’ bacteria Lactobacillus are used to promote gut health. Lactobacillus is a probiotic, a living organism that improves the health of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in a similar way to prebiotics. Probiotics survive well in the GI tract and out-compete species such as E. Coli that can cause GI upsets and diarrhoea. Probiotics, in particular Lactobacillus, have been shown to:

1. Essential Fatty Acids

Essential fatty acids (EFAs), such as omega-3 and omega-6 found in fish oil (in particular Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)) take the top spot on this list. EFAs are cheap, easy to find and have many great health benefits:

EFAs can improve skin and coat health and have been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis 26

EFAs have beneficial anti-inflammatory effects 2829, making them highly suitable for chronic inflammatory diseases such as canine osteoarthritis

There is also evidence to suggest they may reduce the frequency of seizures in epileptic dogs30

Your Thoughts

Are there any supplements we’re missing? Let us know what you use and why or even what you don’t use and why in the comments below. Have you found any additional positive (or negative) papers or articles concerning the supplements above? Leave a link in the comments below.

Disclaimer: Remember, it is always wise to consult your vet before supplementing your dog’s diet. Be sure to research what is best for your dog and stick to dosage guidelines. Overdosing on beneficial supplements isn’t always a good thing – in fact in some cases it can cause toxicity, so please be aware and seek advice if you are unsure.

]]>https://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/12-of-the-best-supplements-proven-to-be-beneficial-for-your-dog/feed/02773Is it Possible to Improve Feline Immunity through the Diet?https://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/improve-feline-immunity-diet/
https://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/improve-feline-immunity-diet/#respondTue, 12 Feb 2013 18:00:25 +0000http://petsci.co.uk/?p=2727We all know how important diet and nutrition are in maintaining good health, for both ourselves and our pets. This is why it is important to provide our animals with a varied diet, to ensure that they receive all the nutrients they need and to prevent deficiencies. Whilst we may feed certain foodstuffs to correct or prevent …

]]>We all know how important diet and nutrition are in maintaining good health, for both ourselves and our pets. This is why it is important to provide our animals with a varied diet, to ensure that they receive all the nutrients they need and to prevent deficiencies.

Whilst we may feed certain foodstuffs to correct or prevent deficiency, an increasing number of ‘bioactive’ ingredients can be found in a variety of pet foods. These ingredients are added to actively improve or maintain certain aspects of animal health. For example; prebiotics and probiotics that can act as digestive aids, or antioxidants that can aid brain function.

A recent study investigated the role of certain dietary components on feline immunity. It has been shown that the addition of certain ingredients to the diet can enhance immunity in rats and humans, so the study looked at whether the same was true for cats. We consider the metabolism of the cat to be specialised (due to its carnivorous diet), so it isn’t possible to simply assume that what is true for us is true for cats.

The Role of the Feline Immune System

The feline immune system functions much like our own; a complex relationship between cells, tissues, organs and disease-causing pathogens protects the cat from disease.

Whilst there are a number of ways the feline immune system can deal with bacteria, parasites and other foreign invaders, the most commonly recognised defence mechanism is the white blood cell. White blood cells, or leukocytes, roam the body and respond to sites of infection or inflammation. Different types of leukocytes have different specialities and thus different roles.

The study discussed in this article showed that adding specific ingredients to a cat’s diet improved the phagocytic function of white blood cells – this is the ability of certain cells to ‘consume’ foreign particles such as bacteria. A process that is very important in immunity.

Ingredients Believed to Improve Feline Immunity

The study looked at three specific ingredients, all of which are believed to have a role in improving immunity:

Arginine – An essential amino acid for cats, it is required to produce enzymes that break down protein after a meal. Arginine has been shown to stimulate the the human and rodent immune system.

EPA & DHA – These omega-3 essential fatty acids are believed to decrease the risk of heart disease. Whilst some research suggest these omega-3 fatty acids can improve immune function, there is also conflicting research that suggests supplementation with omega 3 fatty acids can cause immune suppression.

The Rutherfurd-Markwick study consisted of five groups of cats, each group was fed a different diet. After a period of 35 days, numerous tests were conducted to determine whether the immune system had been enhanced as a result of the diet.

The five diets were:

High protein (control diet)

Low protein (control diet)

Low protein + arginine

Low protein + salmon oil (omega-3 essential fatty acids)

Low protein + nucleotides (derived from yeast)

Conclusion of the Rutherfurd-Markwick Study on Improving Feline Immunity via the Diet

The study found that after only 14 days of being fed a non-control diet (low protein diet + arginine, salmon oil or nucleotides), there was a significant improvement in phagocytic function compared to the control (high/low protein) diets. This means that leukocytes (white blood cells) had an improved ability to consume and destroy foriegn particles such as bacteria.

The conclusion of the study was that it is possible to improve feline immunity by adding specific ingredients to the diet. Arginine, omega-3 essential fatty acids and nucleotides all improved the cat’s ability to deal with infection-causing agents such as bacteria. It is also worth noting that all the animals involved in the study remained healthy and no significant change in body weight was observed.

The ‘immune strength’ of the leukocytes was tested by mixing fluorescent E. coli with blood. Analysing the results allowed the researches to determine the activity of the leukocytes.

]]>https://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/improve-feline-immunity-diet/feed/02727The Overweight Cat: Are we Feeding Cats Too Many Treats?https://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/overweight-cat/
https://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/overweight-cat/#respondTue, 22 Jan 2013 18:00:00 +0000http://petsci.co.uk/?p=2573A recent study by Cats Protection investigated whether cat owners believed their cats to be overweight or not. Of the 1,120 owners asked, 23% of them deemed their cats to be overweight. The true figure of cats that would fall in to the overweight category is likely to be even higher than that. The study …

]]>A recent study by Cats Protection investigated whether cat owners believed their cats to be overweight or not. Of the 1,120 owners asked, 23% of them deemed their cats to be overweight. The true figure of cats that would fall in to the overweight category is likely to be even higher than that.

The study was conducted right after the festive period, when pets are often given more unhealthy treats than they would usually receive throughout the year.

The study participants reported the unhealthy, festive treats they had given to their pets, which included; meats, cheese, chocolate, stuffing, cow’s milk and even Christmas pudding! Treats such as these aren’t healthy for cats as they are high in fat and calorie rich.

We’ve included a ‘Feline Calorie Calculator’ in this article, so you can work out how many calories your cat needs a day, and how many they should be eating if they need to lose weight, check it out below.

Problems Faced by the Overweight Cat

The study conducted by Cats Protection has shown us that, here in the UK, we are giving our cats too many treats, too often! A problem that is likely mirrored in many places around the globe.

Giving treats to our cats is a simple way to show our affection for them, but if we give too many, we could be causing them problems. An increase in body weight of as little as 1kg can increase the risk of weight related problems such as:

Type 2 diabetes (as much as x3 the normal risk)

Heart problems

Respiratory problems

Osteoarthritis

High blood pressure

Cancer

All of which can contribute to a decreased life expectancy.

How to Treat the Overweight Cat

An overweight cat can still be given treats, even as part of a weight loss programme, as long as we carefully monitor their diet. Anyone familiar with dieting will be aware of how important counting calories is, and cats are no exception!

Instead of giving your cat milk, cheese or other fatty, human foods, look out for specifically formulated cat treats. Treats such as ‘Dreamies’ have as little as 2 calories per treat. Not all human food is a bad for your cat though, why not try giving your cat a little boiled fish or boneless chicken as a special treat.

Just be sure to consider the total calorific intake of both standard meals and treats and make sure it isn’t more than what is recommended for your cat.

Calculating How Many Calories an Overweight Cat Needs

The calculator above calculates your cat’s ‘Recommended Energy Requirements’ or RER, based on their ideal weight (typically 4-5kg for adults). To safely lose weight, it is recommended that a cat receives 80% of it’s RER – this value is shown beside ‘Calories required for weight loss’.

Weight Loss Programmes for Overweight Cats

If your cat is overweight and you want to help them shift those extra pounds, there are a few things you can do. One of the best ways to help your cat to lose weight is to change to a specifically formulated weight loss diet. Look for diets branded as ‘light’ or ones that specifically mention ‘Weight loss formulation’ from reputable manufacturers.

When moving your cat over to the new diet, be sure to do so gradually. This means, for the first week, mixing their old food with the new food; slowly increasing the amount of the new food and decreasing the amount of the old food over time.

If you’re finding that your cat is refusing to eat their new food, try switching to a wet ‘light’ diet as some cats find wet food more palatable. You can also try warming wet food slightly to make it even more palatable. If you find that your cat is ‘begging’ more often for food, try replacing their water with fresh water and this can sometimes satisfy them. If they do continue to beg, only offer a small amount of food (for example, if feeding dry food, offer only about 10 kibble pieces).

Be sure that you don’t dramatically change your cat’s diet or calorific intake as rapid weight loss can cause problems, such as feline hepatic lipidosis. This is a condition where the body’s fat reserves are used for energy, leading to a build up of fat in the liver.

Exercises for the Overweight Cat

With dogs, we could quite easily go for a jog (getting both of us fit and healthy at the same time), but unfortunately, cats aren’t built for physical activity like this. Instead, cats are designed to expel large amounts of energy in a short period of time. Lions for example spend large parts of the day fairly ‘relaxed’, but will sprint after their prey at great speeds to earn themselves a meal.

So with this in mind, why not try constantly moving your cat’s food around, so they have to ‘hunt’ for it. Keep putting the food in different places though otherwise your cat will quickly wise up!

Your Thoughts

If you were a participant in the Cats Protection study, how would you have responded? Do you consider your cat to be overweight? If so do you plan to help them shift those extra pounds? Have you got any feline dieting tips you can share with other readers? Let us know in the comments below.

We’d also like to hear how you found the calorie calculator to work out your cats calorific needs. How many calories does your cat need a day?

]]>https://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/overweight-cat/feed/02573EPA and DHA for Dogs: What are they and what are the benefits?https://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/epa-and-dha-for-dogs/
https://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/epa-and-dha-for-dogs/#commentsTue, 18 Dec 2012 17:48:32 +0000http://petsci.co.uk/?p=2406In recent months, there has been a rise in the number of premium pet food products containing EPA and DHA for dogs. EPA and DHA are simply omega-3 fatty acids – already proving popular as a human supplement. The importance of Omega-3 fatty acids, such as EPA and DHA, in our own diets has been …

]]>In recent months, there has been a rise in the number of premium pet food products containing EPA and DHA for dogs. EPA and DHA are simply omega-3 fatty acids – already proving popular as a human supplement.

The importance of Omega-3 fatty acids, such as EPA and DHA, in our own diets has been subject of much research, with evidence suggesting that these fatty acids are indeed beneficial. The pet food market has a general tendency to follow the successes of the human food and supplement market, so it was only a matter of time before we began to see products emerging containing EPA and DHA for dogs.

What are EPA and DHA?

As mentioned earlier, EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) are both Omega-3 fatty acids. The benefit these fatty acids have is that they are highly unsaturated. Being unsaturated is an advantage as it makes it easier for the body to break down and utilise these fatty acids.

Omega-3 fatty acids are an essential part of normal metabolism; however, they cannot actually be produced by the body, so they must be consumed through the diet. Because of this, they are referred to as essential fatty acids.

There is another type of omega-3 essential fatty acid, ALA (Alpha-linolenic acid). ALA is considered inactive however, meaning it must first be converted to an active form before it can be of benefit. This process requires specific enzymes, but not all animals produce the enzymes needed for this conversion – dogs are unable to produce the required enzymes.

Where are EPA and DHA Found?

EPA and DHA are found in their highest levels in fish oils. Coldwater fish such as trout or salmon are a great source of these Omega-3 essential fatty acids. Flax oil is rich in ALA, but as mentioned earlier, ALA requires enzymatic processing to become active.

Reduce dermatitis and allergies, improving coat health – Omega-3 essential fatty acids can alleviate the inflammation of the skin (dermatitis) caused by allergies, fleas, scratching, etc. as well as improve the ‘shine’ of the coat, leading to an overall healthier looking coat.

Healthy cardiovascular system – Omega-3 essential fatty acids can reduce cholesterol and triglycerides (fats) levels in the blood, which can help promote a healthy heart.

Slow cancer growth and improve response to treatment – One study in humans found DHA was able to inhibit the growth colonial cancer cells, EPA and DHA have also both been shown to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Trials into the effect of omega-3 essential fatty acids on cancer are still relatively new however.

Supplementation of Omega-3 essential fatty acids is extremely safe and given their beneficial effects, supplementation is recommendable for all dogs. The Journal of Veterinary Research suggests for optimal results that 1.75g of EPA / 2.2g of DHA per kg of diet should be given.

]]>https://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/epa-and-dha-for-dogs/feed/42406Neutering You Cat: Dealing with Increased Appetite Caused by Sterilisationhttps://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/neutering-you-cat-dealing-with-increased-appetite-caused-by-sterilisation/
https://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/neutering-you-cat-dealing-with-increased-appetite-caused-by-sterilisation/#commentsTue, 21 Aug 2012 16:55:52 +0000http://petsci.co.uk/?p=2313Being a pet owner brings responsibilities as well as privileges. One of the most important responsibilities is making education decisions about what is best for your pet. For most cat owners, sterilisation (neutering) is one of these educated decisions. In fact around 90% of cats in the UK are neutered (Murray, 2009). The reason sterilisation …

]]>Being a pet owner brings responsibilities as well as privileges. One of the most important responsibilities is making education decisions about what is best for your pet.

For most cat owners, sterilisation (neutering) is one of these educated decisions. In fact around 90% of cats in the UK are neutered (Murray, 2009).

The reason sterilisation is so popular within the UK cat population is due to the desirable behavioural changes and the improvement in health that comes with neutering. However, neutering is not without its problems.

Why and When to Neuter Your Cat

Cats reach sexually maturity at around 5 – 8 months of age. Upon reaching sexual maturity, cats start to exhibit new sexual behaviours, such as increased territorial behaviour, aggression in males and ‘calling’ behaviour in females.

At sexual maturity, it becomes possible for females to conceive. Due to the relatively free roaming lifestyle of cats (compared to dogs for instance), the short gestation period and frequent fertility cycles, an unneutered female can quite easily give birth to multiple litters in a lifetime.

For the majority of cat owners, there is no interest in breeding and therefore a pregnant queen can bring with it a number of problems, most obviously, finding a home for all the new kittens!

With this in mind, it is quite easy to see why owners would want to neuter their female cats (spay). It is also why responsible owners of male cats should have them neutered (castrated). However, there are two more primary reasons as to why sterilisation is a good idea:

Reduce Sexual Behaviour – Neutering involves the removal of male or female sex organs (such as the ovaries or testes). Their removal decreases the amount of sex-related hormones, which are largely responsible for behaviour such as aggression and ‘calling’.

Decrease the Risk of Diseases – Uterine infections, mammary tummors and other genital tract disease or infections are more likely in an intact cat (and dogs too!). Neutering reduces the risk of these disease leading to a longer, healthier life for your pet.

Problems Associated with Neutering

The main problems people have with neutering are the cost, welfare issues and the possibility of weight gain post operation.

In terms of cost, it is financially more economic to spay your female than pay the vet fees associated with possible multiple pregnancies as well as the costs associated with raising a litter of kittens! Castrating your male cat is also cheaper than multiple visits to the vet due to injuries sustained as a result of aggression.

Essentially there are no welfare issues, in fact, there are probably more welfare issues associated with not neutering your cat. The operation is done under anaesthesia and the large majority of cats recover from the operation quickly.

The final point, weight gain, is somewhat justified. After the operation, there is a tendency for cats to put on weight. A study found that the risk of obesity is actually tripled (Scarlett, 1998)!

Sterilisation and Obesity

As mentioned earlier, sterilisation involves the removal of hormone producing sex organs. Certain hormones produced by the sex organs have a role in the regulation of appetite, the removal of these hormones therefore reduces the ability of the neutered individual to regulate their appetite appropriately.

Typically, the castrated male or spayed female requires less energy than the intact male or female, however, instead of consuming less food, the neutered cats are actually inclined to eat more!

Decreased energy demand, coupled with increased appetite is almost certain to result in unwanted weight gain. Obesity is a serious medical condition, primarily due to the extra strain put on the body by the additional weight. Obesity can increase the risk of heart disease, joint damage, diabetes and numerous other health issues.

With this in mind, it is important that we control the neutered cat’s diet. Fortunately, sterilisation specific diets, such as Royal Canin’s Sterilised Appetite Control make this an easier task than it might sound!

A Feline Sterilisation Diet

Raising a perfectly healthy sterilised cat is more than possible with regulation of the diet. However specific diets can make the task at hand a little easier. So what makes a sterilisation specific diet different to a normal diet?:

Age specific selection of diets, catering from the recently neutered (5 – 8 months) to the geriatric neutered cat

]]>https://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/neutering-you-cat-dealing-with-increased-appetite-caused-by-sterilisation/feed/22313Nutritional Requirements for your Pregnant Dog and How to Ensure they’re Staying Healthyhttps://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/nutritional-requirements-for-your-pregnant-dog-and-how-to-ensure-theyre-staying-healthy/
https://petsci.co.uk/nutrition/nutritional-requirements-for-your-pregnant-dog-and-how-to-ensure-theyre-staying-healthy/#commentsSat, 26 May 2012 18:16:40 +0000http://petsci.co.uk/?p=2213Pregnant dogs require very different nutritional needs than normal dogs and it’s important to educate yourself on them, if you plan on becoming a breeder or if your pet has fallen pregnant by chance. The stages a female canine goes through is very stressful on her and her body and will require certain steps and …

]]>Pregnant dogs require very different nutritional needs than normal dogs and it’s important to educate yourself on them, if you plan on becoming a breeder or if your pet has fallen pregnant by chance.

The stages a female canine goes through is very stressful on her and her body and will require certain steps and proper care for her journey through carrying and raising her newly born pups. Nursing is the most nutritionally challenging stage in a dog’s life time.

The stages from which you care for your pregnant dog, birthing her puppies and raising them require much involvement, cost and time for which most dog owners are not prepared for. To best guide you as a dog owner, I have listed some basic necessities a breeder must follow to properly nurture your loving mother to be.

Feeding

The food you select should provide the mother with at least 1600 digestible calories per pound of food and at least 22% of protein to maintain the proper bodily functions

Unless your dog begins to put on excess weight (which shouldn’t be a problem if she is exercising regularly, continue to feed your dog as much as she wants

If you are having the opposite effect and your dog is loosing too much weight try to moisten the food or switch to a more nutritionally dense food

Always continue to provide a frequent amount of water

Adjustment During Her Pregnancy

Canine pregnancies on average, last nine weeks. For the first six to seven weeks expect food consumption to be much higher then normal

During the period between weeks six and seven, the female’s weight will increase. You should then begin to increase the output of food by 25%

As you are entering into week nine, your female’s appetite will then begin to diminish which is a beginning sign that the babies will be born within the next two days.

Feeding the Pups!

After the puppies are born, become the most nutritionally challenging time of the dog’s life

You should expect the amount of food consumption to gradually increase over the next 20 to 30 days as the puppies continue to grow and eat more

Following the pregnancy, within the first month with become a food frenzy! Your new mother will begin to eat about two to four times the amount of food she consumed while pregnant. Don’t worry! Continue to feed her as she wishes!

By the third or fourth week, the puppies will begin to venture into the mother’s hard food and begin to nibble at her dish. When this occurs begin to introduce the puppies to solid food by softening the food.

Weaning the Puppies

Between weeks six and eight, the puppies are on averaged weaned off their mother’s milk. In making the process easier for the mother begin to do the following:

Day One: Do not give the mother any food only water

Day Two: Give the mother ¼ of her pre-pregnancy intake

Day Three: Increase her intake to ½

Day Four: Increase her intake to ¾

Day Five: Give her the normal amount of food as she took at pre-pregnancy

Following your dog’s pregnancy, you may need to switch the food you are giving her. In doing so, gradually mix the new good in with old over a two week span. This will gradually transition your dog’s bodily digestive system without completely shocking it.